Mellon Foundation Funds Digitizing Hidden Collections and Archives: Amplifying Unheard Voices

Strengthening Public Understanding of Marginalized Histories with $5 Million Award

July 25, 2023—The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) has been granted a $5,000,000 award from the Mellon Foundation to bolster the Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives: Amplifying Unheard Voices (DHC:AUV) regranting program and related operations.

Continuing the Impact of DHC:AUV

This highly anticipated renewal continues the decisive shift in thematic focus, with a strong emphasis on collections of historically marginalized individuals, and aims to amplify voices, work, experiences, and perspectives that have been insufficiently recognized or unattended. Since its establishment in 2015, Digitizing Hidden Collections has made a significant impact by distributing over $28 million to digitally capture and share rare and unique content in cultural memory institutions.

Documenting the History of Marginalized Voices

The forthcoming call, Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives: Amplifying Unheard Voices, is set to create a groundbreaking opportunity for eligible nonprofit organizations in the US and Canada to digitize materials in any format. By providing essential funding to a diverse cohort of academic, independent, and community-based organizations, CLIR seeks to unlock access to previously unavailable or underutilized collections. This move is expected to foster broader recognition of the immense value in preserving resources that document the history of marginalized people to the advancement of social justice.

A rigorous evaluation process awaits the proposal submissions, with a distinguished review panel comprising esteemed U.S. and Canadian scholars and practitioners representing a wide spectrum of disciplines. The selected award recipients will be determined during a thorough two-part review process, ensuring that the most deserving projects receive the necessary support to bring these unheard voices to the forefront of public understanding.

This milestone funding from the Mellon Foundation reaffirms the significance of creating equitable access to historical narratives and represents a remarkable step toward acknowledging and amplifying the voices that have remained unheard for generations.

New Call for Proposals in August 2023

To stay updated about the program, including when the call for proposals opens in August 2023, the schedule, applicant webinars, and more, visit the website and sign up for the Grants and Programs mailing list.